ADAMS' GUIDELINES FOR CHARACTER IDENTIFICATION
(When No Character Name is Credited)
by Les Adams
- A Barfly is anybody in the saloon not pouring drinks, playing cards or wearing a dress.
- A Townsman is anybody not in the saloon. A close call for those on the saloon porch.
- A Townswoman is any lady not inside the saloon ... usually Eva McKenzie or Rose Plumer.
- A Henchman is anybody standing within eight feet of Charlie King without their arms raised.
- A Stage Guard is the first guy shot off of the box. Usually Tex Palmer or Chick Hannan.
- A Stage Driver is the last guy shot off of the box. See Fred and Bob Burns, George Plues, Post Park or Bud Osborne.
- A Musician is anybody playing an instrument or singing a song ... Ken Maynard the exception.
- A Spectator role is the exclusive property of Tex Cooper, Horace B. Carpenter or Fred Parker.
- A Raider is a Henchman dressed the same as at least two other Henchmen.
- A Lyncher is anybody carrying a rope inside the city limits without an animal attached to it.
- A Vigilante is anybody wearing a hood and carrying a rope inside or outside the city limits.
- A Businessman is anybody who opens a door with a key. See Edward LeSaint and Charles K. French.
- A Businesswoman is any lady inside the saloon.
- A Banker/Lawyer is why the Lynchers are carrying ropes not attached to animals. See Frank LaRue or Le Roy Mason.
- A Storekeeper is anybody behind a counter not pouring drinks. See Henry Hall or Lafe McKee.
- A Rancher is the misguided guy in the saloon sent by the Banker/Lawyer to stir up the barflies.
- A Farmer/Settler/Nester/Homesteader/Sodbuster/Sheepman is why the Banker/Lawyer sent the misguided Rancher to stir up the Barflies.
- A Gunman is an imported contract Henchman with a short first reel life expectancy. See Marshall Reed.
- A Loud Henchman without a character name is the exclusive domain of George Chesebro.
- A Loud Henchman with a given name is still George Chesebro.
- A Wrangler is anybody close to a horse or cow not engaged in stealing it.
- A Cowhand is anybody close to a horse or cow actually working.
- A Cowboy is a member of the Village People.
- A Rustler is a Wrangler engaged in stealing horses or cows.
- A Henchman Wrangler is a gone-bad Rustler stealing sheep.
- A Nusiance is Errol Flynn, Stewart Granger or Jimmy Aubrey playing westerners.
- A Dead Spot is the ten minutes used by Errol Flynn explaning how he got a British accent while punching caws down on the Rye-O Gran-dee.
- Four Dead Spots are the Hoosier Hotshots.
- A Future Orphan is any heroine with Lafe McKee as her father.
- A Useless is Tom Seidel or John James.